Louis atzert



(No Model.)

L. ATZERT. ADJUSTABLE DESK.

No. 519,655. Patented May 8, 1894.

-1 Fax 7 1 09f 2 a I 1 39 a" i W 2,2 a

NNNNNNNNNNNNN a.

PATENT ,OFFICE.

LOUIS ATZERT, OF CASSEL, GERMANY.

ADJUSTABLE DESK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 519,655, dated May 8,1894. Application filed June 14, 1893. Serial llo. 477,542. (No model.)Patented in England June 24, 1890, N0. 9,789.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LouIs ATZERT, merchant, a subject of the EmperorofGermany, and a resident of Cassel, in the Empire of- Germany, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improved Adjustable Desk which can beAdapted for a Number of Purposes, (for which I have obtained LettersPatent in Great Britain, No; 9,789, dated June 24, 1890,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention refers to an improved adjustable desk which can be placedon tables or other objects, and which can be arranged at differentheights or inclinations, so as to be adapted for various purposes, as,for in stance, a writing or reading desk, a music stand, painters easelor an invalids or ordinary table.

The construction shown in the accompanyiug drawings and particularlydescribed in the following specification, has for its chief object toprovide adesk which can be readily and safely fixed in every position,so that it can be used in a raised or lowered position as reading desk,music stand or easel, and to avoid tedious or difficult manipulation infixiug the same when arranging it for different purposes. There are alsoarrangements provided so that the desk can be converted into an invalidsor ordinary table, and, if necessary, a drawer can be connected withsame. Furthermore, this invention comprises improvements for the safearrangement of the desk, or fining it to a table, and the attachment ofadjustable ledges on same, so as to put a book on the plate at differentheights. Referring to the drawings which form a part of :thisspecification, Figure 1 is a side view of the desk arranged as a writingor drawing desk. Fig. 2 is a front view of same. Figs. 3 and 4 show thedesk as a raised and lowered reading desk. Figs. 5 and 6 are side andfront views respectively of the desk with horizontal panel serviceable.as a table, for which purpose a'drawer is connected with the panel orplate. Fig. 7 shows a clamping device or attachment for-securing thedesk to 'a table. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are details of different devicesfor adj ustably attaching a ledge to the panel.

The improved desk consists essentially of a rectangular wooden plate orpanel a provided with side frames c connected by-the cross bar 0' andforming supports hinged at c to the panel at. About the middle of the vframe 0 two supporting arms 6 are pivotally connected on the outersides, the free ends of which are furnished with disks 0, of leather,rubber or other suitable material, and coupled by means of a rod e,secured by fly nuts 19 so that an adjustment of the supporting arms 6can be efiected simultaneously. The respective position of the arms 6issecured by means of links 02 pivoted to the frame 0 of the desk abovethe points at which the arms e turn, and provided with threadedprojections or pegs g projecting through slots f of the arms e on whichpegs fly nuts h can be screwed in order to secure the position of thelinks d. A bent wire rod '5 projects with its ends through holes in theframe 0 or forms the pivots of the arms 6,

such rod t' serving as a support for the plate a in such a way that thehorizontal part of the rod enters the notches b of ledges b fastened onthe underside of the plate a in such manner that such notches arearranged oppositely, so that by raising or lowering the bentwire rod i amore or less inclined or evenly horizontal position of the plate a canbe secured, as shown vin Figs. 1, 3 and 5 respectively of the drawings.By thus adjusting the plate a, the desk can be used for writing on,music stand, reading'desk, or drawing board. If the desk is arranged asin Fig. 4, the bent rodi is not used, and is folded against the plate awhich is also the case with the frame 0, so that the desk rests with oneedge on the table or other object on which it is placed, and is onlysupported by the arms e and links 61 which are in this way directedrearward. In order to prevent the rod 2' when inserted in the notches 1)coming out of such notches, a pin it is threaded into the loops 8 Y sfixed in the rack b in such way that the bent'rod'iis secured in itsposition; if desired, such attachment can be arranged on both racks oneach side. The small wooden block 1 in Fig. 1 which can be fixedanywhere on the edge of the plate bymeansof a suitable hook or spring m,maybe used for carrying an inkstand, 850.

. It is desirable that the rod e (Figs. 2 and 4) which connects the twoarms e can beeasily withdrawn; for this purpose fiy nuts 19 are Iemployed, which can be easily unscrewed, when it is required to draw outthe rod e; if this is done, no further transverse connections betweenthe arms 6 and lower parts of the frame exist, so that the desk can thenbe readily and securely placed over the bed of a sick person for use asinvalids table.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent a modification-the employment of the desk asatable, for which purpose a drawer can be arranged under the plate. Inorder to provide room for such drawer, the transverse rod 1' is bent atright angles forming the centrally depressed portion 2', the drawer.being supported by suitable guides or ledges t t, as shown in Fig. 6.For securing the desk to a table and preventing its being moved when inuse, a fastoning or clamping device can be used, which grasps thetransverse rod e. A suitable device for this purpose is shown in Fig. 7,ac-

, cording to which the hook j which engages with the rod 6 is adjustably attached to the cramp j which is provided, with a thumb screw asusual.

In order to use the desk as a book or music stand, a supporting ledge ispreferably fitted on the plate, which can be fastened by pins enteringholes or recesses in the table.

The arrangements shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 have the advantage thatthe ledges can be moved at will up or down on the plate withoutproviding holes or recesses for receiving pins or other attachments ofthe ledge.

As shown in Fig. 9 which is an edge view of Fig.8, the edges of theplate a are supplied with grooves or recesses a entered by the springs qwhich are attached to the ends of the ledge. For adjusting the ledge, itis only necessary to pull outward the nose (1 and after so releasing thesprings from the recesses of the'plate, move the ledge up or down intothe required position, when the springs again automatically enter therecesses they are opposite. The modification of such device shown inFigs. 10 and 11 consists of a wire spring (1* which is bent backward insuch a manner as to form a part which can enter the notches or recessesin the edge of the plate, whereas by a downward pressure onthe'protruding end (1 this device can be released.

The desk described in the foregoing specification which ischaracteristic for its manifold uses, can be subjected to manymodifications in its details, without departing from thenature of thisinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an improved desk which can be employed for a variety of purposes,the combination, with the plate, of a frame arranged under such plateand pivotally connected with same, supporting arms pivotally attachedthereto, links adjustably connected with such arms and pivotallyconnected with the said frame, and of a bent rod for supporting theplate, which is provided on the under side with racks or notched ledgesfor receiving such supporting rod, substantially as described and shown.

2. The combination of the plate or panel a, a frame pivotally connectedthereto, the

supporting arms adj ustably secured to the said frame, and a linkpivoted at its upper end to the said frame and having its lower endadapted to slide upon one or both of the supporting arms for securingthe plate a in different positions relative to the frame, substantiallyas described.

3. In a desk, the combination of the plate a, the supporting frame towhich it is pivoted, and the pivoted rod t' for sustaining the plate atan angle to the frame, provided with a centrally arranged depressedportion 1", substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with a desk having a cross or transverse rodconstituting a part of its support, a table upon which said desk rests ahooked clamp adapted to engage with the said transverse rod, and withthe table substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with a desk having a transverse rod constituting apart of its support, a clamping device for securing the desk to a table,consisting of a hook j adapted to engage with the said transverse rod,and a clampj to which the said hook is adj ustably secured,substantially as described.

6. y In a desk, the combination with the plate at having the notches orrecesses along its edge, of an adjustable ledge provided with the springcatches adapted to engage with the said recesses, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

7. In a desk, the combination of a plate, a supporting frame to which itis pivoted, the pivoted rod for sustaining the plate at an angle to theframe, the supporting arms adjustably secured to said frame at about itscenter, and a link pivoted at its upper end to the frame and having itslower end adapted to slide upon one or both of the supporting armswhereby the said plate is raised or lowered to any desired position,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LOUIS ATZERT.

Witnesses:

N. HAUPT, L. A. EDWARDS.

